Evaporative Heat Moisture Control in Solid Substrate Fermentation of Wheat Straw for Cellulase Production

本研究旨在开发里氏木霉生产纤维素酶用氨冻爆麦草固体基质发酵过程中的自动化、计算机化、集成化的蒸发热湿控制系统。该系统的基础是将干燥的空气吹过潮湿的衬底，实现受控蒸发冷却，同时通过冷水喷雾补充失去的水分。固体基质发酵(SSF)可以替代深层发酵(SF)，利用麦秆、玉米秸秆等农业废弃物生产燃料和动物饲料。与SF相比，SSF的主要优势是基于基质和产品的低水分含量而获得的高体积生产率。这减少了发酵罐的体积，简化了工艺，提高了产品浓度，节省了除水成本。SSF商业化最关键的问题是水分和温度的控制。PIS计划设计和测试一种完全自动化和计算机化的系统，其基础是通过潮湿的基材吹干空气，以实现受控的蒸发热量排出，同时通过冷水喷雾补充失去的水，以保持恒定的水分。如果这一概念在本研究中得到验证，将为SSF工艺的放大提供现实的技术基础。

The objective of this research is to develop an automated, computerized and integrated evaporative heat-moisture control system in the solid substrate fermentation of ammonia freeze explosion treated wheat straw by Trichoderma reesei for cellulase production. The system is based on blowing dry air through the moist substrate to cause controlled evaporative cooling, at the same time replenishing lost water by cool water spray. Solid substrate fermentation (SSF) could be an alternative to submerged fermentation (SF) for producing fuel and animal feed from agricultural residues such as wheat straw and corn stover. The main advantage of SSF, compared to SF, is the high volumetric productivity which is based on the low water content of substrate and product. This reduces fermenter volume, simplifies technology, increases product concentration and saves the cost of water removal. The most critical problem for SSF commercialization is the control of moisture and temperature. The PIs plan to design and test a completely automated and computerized system based on blowing dry air through the moist substrate to cause controlled evaporative heat removal, and at the same time replenishing lost water by cool water spray to maintain constant moisture. If the concept can be proven in this research, a realistic technical base will be available for the scale-up of SSF processes.